Female Genital Cutting

Today is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation #FGM.

Female Genital Mutilation is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or injury to the female genital organs, for non-therapeutic reasons.
The WHO classifies the practice into four types: type I (clitoridectomy), type II (excision), type III (infibulation) which are in the order according to the growing level of serenity, while type IV comprises of all other harmful procedures performed on the female genitalia for non-medical purposes (e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization).
Globally, over 140 million women and girls are subjected to this practice in which most of the victims are mainly from the African countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Mali, Eritrea, Sudan, Central African Republic, and northern part of Ghana where it has been an old traditional and cultural practice of various ethnic groups. The highest prevalence rates are found in Somalia and Djibouti where FGM is virtually universal.. In Nigeria, it is still practiced very much in the local communities across Nigeria. The existence of FGM is majorly ascribed to the beliefs that have been from generation to generation especially where critical decision makers are grandmothers, mothers, women, opinion leaders, men and age groups.
As at the last research, statistics revealed that the highest prevalence is in the south-south (77%) (Among adult women), followed by the south east (68%) and south west (65%), but practiced on a smaller scale in the north, paradoxically tending to a more extreme form.
In Africa, about 3 million girls are at risk for FGM annually. Despite the increased international and little national attention, the prevalence of FGM overall has declined very little.

1. Several justifications to the existence of this practice include FGM being regarded as a tribal traditional practice (our custom is a good tradition and has to be protected), as a superstitious belief practiced for preservation of chastity and purification, family honor, hygiene, esthetic reasons, protection of virginity and prevention of promiscuity, modification of socio-sexual attitudes (countering failure of a woman to attain orgasm), increasing sexual pleasure of husband, enhancing fertility and increasing matrimonial opportunities. Other reasons include: to prevent mother and child from dying during childbirth and for legal reasons (one cannot inherit property if not circumcised). However, in some parts of Nigeria, the cut edges of the external genitalia are smeared with secretions from a snail footpad with the belief that the snail being a slow animal would influence the circumcised girl to go slow with sexual activities in future. However, FGM is often routinely performed as an integral part of social conformity and in line with community identity.
   Despite these reasons, the truth of the matter is that this practice is deeply embedded in gender inequality and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It involves violation of rights of the children and violation of a person’s right to health, security, and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death. Furthermore, girls usually undergo the practice without their informed consent, depriving them of the opportunity to make independent decision about their bodies. What then are we saying?
   It will interest you to know that FGM has adverse consequences such as shock from pain and hemorrhage infection, acute urinary retention, chronic pelvic infection, acquired gynatresia resulting in hematocolpos, vulval adhesions, dysmenorrhea, retention cysts, and sexual difficulties with anorgasmia.

Other complications are implantation dermoid cysts, keloids and sexual dysfunction. So tell me, with all these complications, how does FGM make sense? How many of you naturally love a tear in your hand mistakenly by blade or knife? None. You do not like that little cut. Therefore, it makes no sense causing another human like you pain in the essence of sustaining disadvantageous traditions.
What can we do as individuals since policies are becoming difficult to be carried out by governments and organizations who are supposed to aid the decline of this practice? get handicapped fianancially to reach out to a large number of people?

– Join the crusade to say NO to save the future generations of women.
– Enquire about the practice in your locality and give clear information and education to other people on the health effects of FGM.

– Volunteer in things like this!

– Educate every person you see that is new to motherhood.

 – Work with other people to stop the practice in your area. Contact health or other influential authorities in your area to notify them about the problem.

– You can also give to show how interested you are in putting a stop to this menace. Arise Oh Compatriot! and #EndFGM    #ZeroTolerance4FGM            #InternationalDayOfZeroToleranceToFGM @UNICEF @WHO #UNFPA